Harmanaire promising

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 20

Harmanaire promising

Special correspondent Harmanaire seems certain to prove a big winner in the spring judging by h‘is present condition. The big black looks a ball of muscle and showed a glimpse of his best at yesterday’s Hastings barrier trials. Harmanaire started in the second of two 800 m heats for class one, two and three horses. He only finished third

out of ‘ five runners - but nevertheless was very im. pressive.

Jimmy Cassidy rode Harmanaire and bounced him out well from the barrier. They settled back in equal third place until the home turn where Cassidy switched the entire to the middle of the track.

Young Steve and Snell had made the pace throughout but Harmanaire was running

them down over the final stages. “He was just getting wound up at the finish,” said Cassidy. Young Steve won the heat by a head from Snell, with half a length to Harmanaire. Young Steve’s time on a slow track was 51.5 sec. The other 800 m heat for class one, two and three horses resulted in an all the way win to the speedy Current Coin.

Ridden by Cherie Saxon, Current Coin had put five lengths on the’ .opposition after only 150 m. He was challenged strongly in the home straight. but had enough in reserve to hold out Dasher by half a length. There was a six length cap back to third placed Chinkara.

Bold Eulogy impressed jockey David Frethey in winning a 1200 m heat for maidens. The four-year-old mare was always travelling too well for her seven rivals and won, easing down, by a length. Her time of Imin 22.5 s could easily have been improved on.

The three 800 m maiden heats were won bv Flv Boy, Classic Court and a Diplomatic Agent-Phareno filly. The last mentioned is a half-sister to the class mare Mun Lee. She is owned by her breeder Mr Don Gordon, and trained at Hastings by Don Sellwood.